Rafael Nadal: ‘I want to be remembered as someone who left a good example for boys and girls’
He will go down as one of the all-time greats of tennis once he hangs up his racket for good, but Rafael Nadal insists his “only objective” is to leave a “good example for boys and girls”.
The 19-time Grand Slam winner won title No 85 over the weekend as he downed Taylor Fritz to win the Mexican Open for a third time in his career.
The trophy leaves him nine behind Ivan Lendl in third place on the all-time title list for most singles titles with Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) ahead of them.
However, the 33-year-old Nadal is not too bothered about the titles as he wants to leave a lasting legacy.
“In the future, I do not want to be remembered as a tennis player who won numerous titles, but to have left a good example for boys and girls,” he said.
“This is my only objective, then winning or losing is part of the sport in general. If one thing I wish I could say that I have done well is that I have transmitted positive things on and off a track and that makes me very satisfied on my part.”
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
WTA TourMartina Navratilova backs teenager Coco Gauff to ‘change the world for the better’
High praise for Coco Gauff from the great Martina Navratilova.
-
ATP TourNovak Djokovic and his wife Jelena return negative coronavirus tests after self-isolating
Good news from the Novak Djokovic camp.
-
Grand SlamJohn McEnroe feels it ‘might be a bit tricky’ for Rafael Nadal to play at both US Open and French Open
John McEnroe not so sure Rafael Nadal will play US Open.
-
ATP TourDaniil Medvedev on his on-court antics: ‘I can be a little childish and start crying’
Daniil Medvedev on his two different personalities.
-
ATP TourAustralian great says ‘it is good’ Nick Kyrgios is ‘calling people out’, but wants it done behind closed doors
Australian icon sort of, kind of supports Nick Kyrgios.
-
WimbledonWimbledon memories: Serena Williams’ brush with disaster underlined her uneasy bond with Centre Court crowd
Kevin Palmer highlights a Serena Williams memory.
-
US OpenMilos Raonic warns Novak Djokovic ‘it will take a little bit of time to get trust back’
Milos Raonic on the Adria Tour debacle.
-
US OpenSerena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou feels it would be ‘a bit crazy’ to go ahead with US Open
Mouratoglou raises questions about hosting US Open.
-
ATP TourAndy Murray explains big positive from hip surgery: ‘I am able to serve as hard as in my mid-20s’
Plenty of positives for Andy Murray.
-
Kevin PalmerWimbledon memories: Roger Federer’s breakthrough… and it is not his win against Pete Sampras in 2001
Kevin Palmer on Roger Federer’s SW19 breakthrough.